When Clay Bennett moved the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008, he took the players, the coaches, and the contracts. What he couldn't take was the history.
As part of the legal settlement that allowed the relocation, Seattle retained the SuperSonics name and franchise history. Oklahoma City's team was rebranded as the Thunder — a new franchise with no connection to Seattle's legacy.
41 Years of History
The SuperSonics joined the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1967, named as a nod to Seattle-based Boeing, which was developing a supersonic commercial aircraft at the time. Over 41 seasons in Seattle, the franchise compiled a record of 1,745–1,585, made 22 playoff appearances, won one NBA Championship (1979), and appeared in three NBA Finals (1978, 1979, 1996).
The 1979 Championship
Coached by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and led on the court by Hall of Famer Jack Sikma, the 1979 Sonics went 52–30 in the regular season and defeated the Washington Bullets in five games to claim the title — avenging a seven-game Finals loss to the Bullets the previous year.
The Payton-Kemp Era
The 1990s Sonics, led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp under coach George Karl, were one of the most electrifying teams in the league. Their 1995–96 team went 64–18 before falling to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in six games in the NBA Finals.
Retired Numbers
Six numbers are currently retired for the SuperSonics franchise: No. 1 (Gus Williams), No. 10 (Nate McMillan), No. 19 (Lenny Wilkens), No. 24 (Spencer Haywood), No. 32 (Fred Brown), and No. 43 (Jack Sikma). Gary Payton (No. 20) and Shawn Kemp (No. 40) are widely expected to have their numbers retired in the inaugural season of the revived franchise.
A Golden Inheritance
For an expansion franchise, inheriting this history is an extraordinary advantage. The new Seattle franchise gets the Sonics brand, the championship legacy, and one of the most beloved identities in NBA history — from day one.